Calculating-machine.



No. 810,090. PATENTBD JAN. 16, 1906. J. M. SHARP. CALCULATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.23,1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTBD JAN. 16, 1906.

J. M. SHARP.

CALCULATING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED APR.23, 1904.

/Q 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

JH/v M SHARP klhdwgp PATENTBD JAN. 16, 1906.

J. M. SHARP. CALCULATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.23. 1904.

3 SHEETSSHEET s.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CALCULATING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Jan. 16, 1906.

Application filed April 23,1904. erial No. 204,582.

} isni and order-keys, so that the carriage,

with its number-wheels, may be set in position corresponding to theorder of the number to be added or subtracted, and when so set theoperator by striking digit-keys corresponding in value to the digits ofthe number will cause the appropriate number-wheels to be turned toexpose the digits at the display or sight opening, the carriage movingautomatically from right to left as the digit-keys are struck. Thenumber-wheels on the carriage are provided with internal teeth, whichare adapted to be engaged by a projection on a sleeve passing throughthe number-wheels and carriage, the said sleeve being operatedcircumferentially, but held longitudinally against movement, thecircumferential movement being derived from the operation of thedigit-keys and causing the number-wheel in engagement with theprojection or stud to be turned to expose the desired digit at the display-opening. The arrangement is such that the shifting of the carriagewill bring different ones of the number-wheels into engagement with thestud or pro ection to be turned:

' free rotary movement, 1s thus held against thereby.

The invention consists in the features and combination and arrangementof parts hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of theinvention complete.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view with the outer; casing omitted and omittingalso the num-g with the order-keys associated therewith and adjacentparts. Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the machine from front torear. Fig. 5 1s a perspective view of the number-wheel carriage, meansfor operating the same, and parts of the frame. Fig. 6 is a perspectiveview of the central shaft of the machine and pawl-and-ratchet mechanism.Fig. 7 is a view of a sleeve to fit on the central shaft of Fig. 6. Fig.8 is a detail of means for adjusting the central shaft, Fig. 8" a detailof a nut for the said means. Figs. 9 and 10 are details of means foroperating the numberwheel carriage. Figs. 11, 12, 13, and 14 are viewsof details. Fig. 15 is the plate for holding the order-keys.

In the drawings, 1 indicates the numberwheels, which, as shown moreparticularly in Figs. 1 and 14 are provided with internal teeth 2 andhave the digits disposed around the periphery. T hese number-wheels arearranged in a carrier 3 in the form of a box,with its upper and frontsides open, as shown in Fig. 3, and they are arranged to slide when thecarrier is moved upon a sleeve 4, which in turn is supported upon themain shaft 5 of the machine, Fig. 6, which shaft is journaled in thewall 6 of the case of the machine. The

shaft 5 carries fixed thereto a pinion 7,

through which the shaft 5 is turned, as will be hereinafter described.It also carries a pawl-block 8, Figs. 6 and 12, fixed thereto, carryingpivotally the pawls 9 and 10, which are to engage a toothed wheel 11,fixed to the sleeve 1 before described. This pawlandratchet mechanism islocated on the inner side of the side 6 of the frame, and the sleeve 4extends only from near the inner side of one side wall of the frame tothe inner side of the opposite wall, and at the latter point it isprovided with a circular shoulder or collar in the form of a toothedwheel 12, engaged by a block 13, Figs. 2 and 7, fixed to the inner sideof the wall 6. The sleeve, while permitted longitudinal movement, and itcarries a stud or projection 1 1 at about its center adapted to beengaged by the internal teeth 2 of the number-wheels when thenumber-wheel carriage is shifted into position to make the desirednumber-wheel engage the said stud. or projection with its internalteeth.

The normal position of the number-wheel carrier is at the extremeleft-hand side of the machine, as indicated in Fig. 1, which shows agroup of order-keys 15, which are supported on the carrier, as beinglocated at the lefthand side of the apparatus, and for setting thecarrier toward the right to make the appropriate number-wheel engage theturning stud or projection 14 the following mechanism is provided. Asjust stated, the number-wheel carrier has the order-keys 15 supportedthereon, and for this purpose the carrier has fixed thereto a plate 16,Fig. 3, having upturned ears 17, through openings in which a bar 18 ispassed, serving as a pivot, as indicated in Fig. 4, for the order-keys.These order keys are provided with fingerbuttons 19, by which they maybe depressed. When either of the order-keys is so depressed, it willstrike a band 20, attached rigidly at one end 21 to the frame of themachine and passing over a roller 22 to connect in any suitable manner,as at 23, with a pawl 48, to lift the same, and also a pawl 24,hereinafter described. This detent engages with an escapementratchet-Wheel 25, which is fixed to a sleeve 26, arranged to turn on apin or shaft 27, held in the frame at 28, Fig. 4, the said sleeve beingunder tension of a spring 29, one end of which is attached thereto,while the other end is attached at 30 to the frame of the machine. Thesleeve also carries a segmental gearwheel 32, meshing with a rack 33 onthe number-wheel carrier, and it will thus be seen that when theorder-key is depressed, as above stated, the band 20 will be drawn open,lifting the detent 24 and pawl48 out of the escapement-wheel andallowing the spring 29 to turn the sleeve 26 and the gear-wheel 32 tomove the numberwheel carrier to the right, and this movement willcontinue until the side of the depressed order-key strikes a stop 34,suitably supported upon the top of the casing of the machine, said stopbeing in the form of an angular bar attached to the top plate andpresenting its end to be struck by the side edge of the depressedorder-key. Supposing, for instance, the number 4321 is to be displayedat the opening X in the casing or that this number is to be added withsome other number, the operator will first determine the order of thenumber, in this case thousandths, and he Will then depress thecorresponding order-key,which of course in the present instance would bethe fourth key from the right of the group shown in the drawings, andthe number-wheel carrier having been shifted, as above described, by thedepression of this key will have brought the fourth numeral-wheel, stillcounting from the right of the group, into engagement by its internalteeth with the turning stud or projection 14 on the sleeve 4, and themachine is now set ready to receive the successive manipulations of thedigit-keys 4 3 2 1 to display the number 4321 at the opening X, as willnow be described.

The digit keys are illustrated at 35, and they comprise buttons orfinger-pieces on the upper ends of stems 36, movable vertically inguides 37, forming part of the frame, Fig. 2, the said stems carryingeach a projecting pin 37, overlying a bar 38, forming part of a framewhich is pivotally supported on short studs or pins 40 on the outersides 6 of the easing. The studs 37 are arranged at di ll'eren televations in respect to the upper edge of the bar 38, according to thevalue of the digit which each key represents, the projection for the keycarrying the digit 9 being closest to the upper edge of the bar, so thata maximum. movement of the said bar will take place while this key isoperated, while for the key representing the digit 1 the projectionthereon will be at the greatest height on the said keystem, so that thegreater portion of the movement of this key will be lost and the bar 38will be operated to a minimum extent. The stem of the 0 key is notprovided with any projection, so that when this key is operated nomovement of the bar 38will take place.

A toothed segment 41 is associated with the pivotframe 38, being pivotedon the stud 40 and arranged to engage the pinion 7 on the main shaft 5.A second segment, but having its teeth arranged internally thereof, asat 42, is linked at 43 to the first segment 41 and is also arranged toengage the pinion when said pinion is properly adjusted for thispurpose. The link 43 has its pin 43, which connects with the segment 41,also connected with the frame 38 by entering a slot 39 in the saidframe. The segment 42 is pivoted at 42 to the frame 6 and is called intoaction when subtraction is to be performed, while the segment 41 is forthe purpose of performing addition. Both segments are moved on theirpivots each time the frame 38 is depressed, but only one segment iseffective at a time. As shown in Fig. 2, the shaft 5, which is movablelongitudii'ially, is in its extreme right-hand position, so that pinion7 is now engaged by the adding-segment 41, and whenever the digit-key isoperated the frame 38 will be moved, causing the segment 41 to turn theshaft 5 through the pinion 7, and this action through the pawl 9,carried by the said shaft 5, as before described, will in conjunctionwith the toothed wheel 11 turn the sleeve 4 and cause the turning orsetting stud 14 to turn the number wheel in engagement therewith anamount sufficient to bring the digit on the said number-wheelcorresponding in value to the digit on the key to the display-opening X.When the key is released, the parts return to normal position, exceptingthe sleeve 4 and the number-wheel that is to say, the shaft 5 andsegments 41 and 42 will be turned back under the pressure of the spring43*, Fig. 6, and the frame 39 will also be raised from thespring-pressure.

The depression of the digit-key just described performs another functionin addition to that of turning the number-wheel, and for this purpose alever-plate 44, Figs. 4

and 5, is pivotally supported at 45 within the frame, its fiont edgebeing below the lower ends of the digit-key stems. When, therefore, thedigit-key is depressed, the rear end of the lever-plate will be lifted,and act ing upon an incline 46 on the tailpiece 47 of the pawl 48 willretract the said pawl against the tension of its spring 49, so that thesaid pawl will engage a new tooth in the escapementratchet 25, thussetting the parts to move the number-wheel carriage one step to the leftwhen the digit-key is released, this leftward movement being effected bythe withdrawal of the lever-plate 44 from the incline 46, leaving thespring 49 free to exert is force and thrust the driving-pawl 48 to theleft to turn the ratchet 25, and thus turn also the toothed wheel 32,which meshes with the rack 53 on the carriage. In this way thenumber-wheel which has just been rotated is moved longitudinally alongthe sleeve 4 to carry its internal teeth out of engagement with thesettingstud l4 and to bring the internal teeth on the next number-wheelat the right of the group into engagement with the said stud, so thatupon depression of the next digit-key this numberwheel will be turned todisplay the appropriate digit thereon through the opening X. Thelever-plate 44 is raised when the digit-key is released by means of aspring 49.

In the example given above, where the number 4321 is to be displayed oradded with some other number, it will be seen that it will only benecessary to select the order key and press this down, this being thefourth one of the group, counting from the right in this instance, andthis will bring the fourth numeral-wheel to engage the setting-stud, andafter this the digit -keys 4 3 2 1 will be pressed in the order named.The depression of the digit-key 4 will cause the fourth numeral-wheel tobe turned so as to display the digit 4, and when this key is releasedthe number-wheel carrier will be automatically moved one step leftwardby the pawl 48, as above described, so as to bring the thirdnumeral-wheel into engagement with the setting-stud, and upon thedepression ofthe digit-key 3 this numeral-wheel 3 will be turned todisplay the digit S at the opening X, and similar operations will beperformed in respect to the digit-keys 2 and 1. As a result of thisoperation just described there would appear at the opening X thefollowing number 00004321, and supposing we desire to add to thisanother number, say 9784, we would proceed by again depressing thefourth orderkey, which would set the fourth numeralwheel again inengagement with the settingstnd, and we would next depress the 9digitkey, then the 7, the 8, and the 4. When the 9 key was struck, thefourth numeral wheel would be turned through nine spaces, and it havingbeen already turned four spaces as the result of the first operation acarrying operation would be called into action to carry the result ontothe next wheel of higher order in a manner generally well known. Thiscarrying mechanism in my machine comprises a full thirty-toothed wheel50, Fig. 14, and a threetoothed wheel 51 arranged side by side andbetween the numeral-wheels, one being attached to one numeral-wheel andthe other to the adjacent numeral-wheel, and both being arranged toengage a carrying-wheel 53, arranged to turn on a shaft 53, supported inthe end walls of the nu inber-wheel carrier, it being obvious from thisconstruction that when one numeral-wheel completes a full revolution thethree-toothed wheel associated with it will engage the carrying ortransfer wheel 53, and this engaging the full thirty-toothed wheel 50 ofthe next number-wheel will turn the same, and thus transfer the digit tobe carried onto the next wheel. In order to hold the number-wheels inthe positions to which they are moved, detents 54 are provided, pivotedon the shaft 53 and pressed into place.by springs 55, bearing uponsuitable part of the carrier-frame.

For performing subtraction the shaft 5 is shifted longitudinally to theleft, Fig. 6, as heretofore intimated, and for this purpose I provide ascrew-threaded head 56 on the said shaft, having a handle 57 and adaptedto engage a suitable fixed nut 56, so that by turning the screw-tineadedhead the shaft may be shifted to make the pinion 7 engage either withthe adding-segment or the subtracting-segment 52. The operation forsubtracting is carried out in the same manner as the parts are operatedfor addition, excepting that the movement of the numeral-wheels takesplace in the opposite direction from that described above, and in thissubtracting operation the pawl 10 is brought into action instead of thepawl 9.

The number-wheel carriage is guided by its rack, and also by the sleeve4 passing through it, and, further, by a roller 58, Fig. 4, bearing upona suitable portion of the said carrier.

In order to provide a key-lock, a rocking frame 59 is employed, pivotedto the frame at 60 and having its main bar arranged to engageprojections or teeth 61 on the stems of the digit-keys. Thelocking-frame is drawn toward the said teeth by a spring 62 but theaction of this spring is normally opposed by the lever-plate 44, whichacting upon the portions 63 of the ends of the said locking-frame servesas stops to prevent the locking-frame being drawn into engagement withthe teeth of the key-stems; but when any key-stem is operated and thelever-plate is pressed downwardly at its front end the spring 62 is thenfree to draw the bar 59 into engagement with the teeth of all thekeystems which have not been operated, thus locking them in positionuntil the operated key returns to normal position. keys are supported tokeep them from falling until they are locked by the bar 59 byleafsprings 64:, normally slightly bent or compressed. The order-keysmay have two rows of colors on their front inclined faces, the upper rowbeing for dollars and cents and the lower row for other numbers.

It will be understood that the sleeve moves continuously in onedirection during addition, but no matter where the stud 14 stops it isalways in position to be engaged. by the internal teeth of thenumber-wheels.

The detent 241; before mentioned is pivoted on a pin 65, extending froma part of the frame 66, Fig. 5, and this detent is raised at the sametime the pawl 4-8 is raised by a pin 67, Figs. 5 and 9, extending fromthe pawl beneath the detent. The pawl is drawn normall y down by aspring 69, Fig. 9. The spring 49 for moving the pawl lengthwise bearsupon a stud 70, extending from the pawl. The pawl pivots and slides upona staple 71, fixed to the casing or frame, which may be provided with anopening at 7 2, detail plan view Fig. 10, for the pawl end to passthrough. The segments may be inclosed in a secondary casing 73, Fig. 1,in the wall of which the pivot pin 40 for the seg ment 41 is'supported.

The sleeve 4 will be held against undue dis placement by a detent 12engaging the toothed collar.

The function of the springs 64, attached to the digit-key stems, is tohold the unoperated keys up long enough for the locking-bar .59 toengage their teeth 61. The springs are normally under compression or arebent by the upward pressure from the plate 44 but when this plate swingsdown the springs straightening out will still hold up the stems of theunoperated keys long enough for the lockingbar to get intolocking-position.

Fig. 15 shows the plate 16, which carries the pivotrod 18 of theorder-keys. This plate is supported upon a block or ledge 16 on thecarriage, so that a space 16 will be left under the right-hand portionof the plate to enable it to clear the top plate of the casing of themachine.

I claim- 1. In combination in a calculating-machine, a series ofnumber-wheels, a carrier therefor spring means for moving the carrier inone direction, order-keys controlling the said means, a device formoving the carrier positively in the opposite direction digit-keys andconnections therefrom for turning the number-wheels and for operatingthe said device, substantially as described.

In combination in a calculating-ma chine, a series of number-wheels, ashifting carrier therefor, said number-wheels having internal teeth, asetting or turning device to engage said internal teeth and held againstThe idle l movement axially of the number-wheels, or-

der-keys with means controlled thereby for moving the carrier to bringthe mrmberwheel of the desired order to engage the setting device anddigit-keys with connections therefrom to the turning or setting deviceto turn the number-wheel to expose the desired digit, said connectionsincluding an adjustable part whereby the machine may be made to add orsubtract, substantially as described.

3. In combination in a calculating-mm chine, a series of number-wheels,a shifting carrier therefor, said number-wheels having internal teeth, asetting or turning device to engage with said internal teeth,(.n'der-keys with means controlled thereby for moving the carrier tobring the number-wheel of the desired order to engage the setting deviceand digit-keys with connections therefrom to the turning or settingdevice to turn the numberwheel to expose the desired digit, substarntially as described.

4-. In combination in a cal .:ulati11g-niachine, a series ofnumber-wheels having internal teeth, a carrier for the nuinber-wheels aturning or setting device to engage the internal teeth, order-keys with.means controlled thereby for shifting the carrier to bring the desirednumber-wheel to engage the setting device, digit-keys with connectionsto the setting device for operating the same and means controlled by theoperation of the digit-keys for shifting the carrier one step for eachoperation, to cause the numberwheels to successively engage the settingdevice, substantially as described.

5. In combination in a calculating-machine, a series of number-wheels,one for *ach order of digits, a shifting carrier therefor, a rotaryshaft along which the carrier shifts, said shaft having associatedtherewith a number-wheel-setting device orderkeys with means forarresting the carrier to correspond with the order-key operated anddigit-keys with connections to said shaft for turning the number-wheels,substantially as described.

6. In combination in a calculating-machine, a series of number-wheels, acarrier therefor, said wheels having internal teeth, a shaft passingthrough the number-wheels and along which the group of number-wheels mayshift, a setting device comprising a pin or projection associated with.the said shaft and adapted to ei'igage the interi'ial teethv of thenumber-wheels, order-keys with means associated therewith for settingthe number wheel of the desired order into engagement with the said pinand digit-keys for turning the said shaft with the pin and thus turningthe number-wheel to expose the digit desired, substantially asdescribed.

7. In combination in a calculating-1nachine, a series of mnnber-wheels,a carrier therefor, a series of order-keys each arranged to act as astop, spring-controlled escapement mechanism for operating the carrier,a band arranged to be pressed by the order-keys for operating theescapement, a setting or turning device for the number-Wheels to whichthey are brought by the movement of the carrier and digitkeys withconnections to the said setting or turning device, substantially asdescribed.

8. In combination in a calculating-machine, a series of number-wheels, acarrier therefor, order-keys on the carrier, a stop on the frame,arranged to be struck by any order-key when depressed spring-pressedescapement mechanism for operating the carrier, a band controlling thesame arranged to be operated by the depression of an orderkey, a turningor setting device for the numberwheels, digit-keys and connectionstherefrom to the turning or setting device, substantially as described.

9. In combination in a calculating-machine, a series of numberwheels, acarrier therefor said wheels having internal teeth, a turning or settingdevice for engaging the internal teeth an escapement mechanism formoving the carrier order-keys controlling the escapement, stop means,digit-keys connections therefrom to the setting device, and means foroperating the carrier from the digitkeys comprising a-pawl to act on apart of the escapement, and a lever-plate operated by any one of thedigitkeys and serving to set the pawl ready to act said pawl having aspring to move it when the digit-key is released, substantially asdescribed.

10. In combination in a calculating-machine for addition andsubtraction, a series of number-wheels a carrier therefor, said wheelshaving internal teeth, a setting device to which the carrier moves thewheels consisting of a pin or projection to engage the said internalteeth, rotary means carrying the said pin, digit-keys and connectionstherefrom for operating the said pin-carrying means circumferentially ineither direction, to rotate the pin in either direction to turn thenumber-wheels for addition or subtraction, substantially as described.

11. In combination in a calculating-machine, a series of number-wheelsinternally toothed, a sleeve along which the series of wheels may slide,a pin on said sleeve to engage the internal teeth, a shaft passingthrough the said sleeve digit-keys, connections therefrom for drivingthe shaft in either one direction or the other and means fortransmitting the movement of the shaft to the sleeve, substantially asdescribed.

12. In combination in a calculatingmachine, a series of number-wheels, acarrier therefor said number-wheels having internal teeth a sleevehaving a pin thereon to engage the internal teeth of the number-wheels ashaft passing through the said sleeve and movable longitudinally, apinion on the said shaft, adding and subtracting toothed segments witheither of which the said pinion may be engaged by shifting the shaft,digitkeys and means for operating the segments therefrom, substantiallyas described.

13. In combination in a calculating-machine, a series of number-wheels,a carrier therefor, said number-wheels having internal teeth, a sleeve,a pin thereon to engage the internal teeth, a shaft passing through thesleeve, digit keys with means for driving the shaft in either directionfrom the said digitkeys and pawl-and-ratchet mechanism between the shaftand sleeve, substantially as described. A

14. In combination in a calculating-machine, a series of number-wheels acarrier therefor, said wheels having internal gearteeth, a sleeve havinga pin to engage said gear-teeth a shaft within the sleeve arranged to beshifted longitudinally digit-keys, means for turning the shaft from thedigit-keys in either one direction or the other according to thelongitudinal position of the shaft and a screw-threaded head on the saidshaft with a handle for turning the same said head turning in a fixedpart to move the shaft longitudinally, substantially as described.

15. In combination in a calculating-machine, a series of number-wheels,a turning or setting device therefor, digit-keys for operating the saidturning device, a carrier for the number-wheels, connections for movingthe said carrier from the digit-keys and a keylock arranged to becontrolled by the operation of the said connections, substantially asdescribed.

16. In combination in a calculating-machine, a series of number-Wheels,a carrier therefor, digit-keys, connections for operating the carrierfrom the digit-keys compris ing the lever-plate arranged below the keysto be operated thereby, and a key-lock comprising a pivoted frame heldnormally away from the keys when the lever-plate is in its upperposition, substantially as described.

17. In combination in a machine of the class described, a series ofverticallyextending keys, a number-wheel carriage, a lever with meansbetween the same and the numher-wheel carriage for operating it, saidlever being arranged to be depressed by the keys, a key-lock, andsprings for holding the unoperated keys up until the lock is set, saidsprings being normally compressed by the lever when in its uppermostposition, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN M. SHARP.

Witnesses OLIVER P. STEWART, D. J. SAUL.

